A recent study, touted to be the first to compare the outcomes of IVM protocol involving FSH and hCG priming with oocyte retrieval after 38 hours and conventional IVF procedure (GnRH agonist or antagonist cycle) in infertile women with PCOS, reports that the IVM protocol is an effective alternative that is akin to the IVF.
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Conventionally used measures to determine embryo quality, such as morphology and cleavage rate, have limited ability to predict successful outcome. A recent prospective laboratory study suggests that the evaluation of the oxidative status of an early embryo in the culture media may serve as a novel technique for improving embryo selection in IVF-ET cycles. The results of the study are published in the journal, Fertility and Sterility. Continue Reading

The intrinsic optical property of zona pellucida (ZP), termed as ‘birefringence’, has been widely investigated to predict the developmental potential of a fertilized oocytes, as well as ART treatment outcomes. A recent prospective study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility further substantiates the efficacy of ZP birefringence (ZPB) in predicting the developmental competence of oocytes in the metaphase II stage. Continue Reading

Written by Professor Semra Kahraman

The ability to cryopreserve oocytes is of importance in certain clinical and social situations. However, an effective oocyte cryopreservation programme is yet to be developed. In contrast to unsatisfactory results of slow freezing, vitrification of oocytes has yielded comparable pregnancy rates with fresh oocyte retrieval treatments. However, vitrification has not been applied to immature germinal vesicle (GV)-stage oocytes, which are theoretically more resistant to the cryo-damage. In a recent study, researchers investigated whether immature and in vitro matured human oocytes can be successfully vitrified by comparing oocyte survival rates, fertilization, and embryonic development when oocytes are vitrified before and after in vitro maturation (IVM). Continue Reading